STOCKTON — One match away.
East Union’s Joe Luna needed to win his first two matches Saturday morning to advance to the California State Championships. He got the first win in the competitive 138-pound division but did not get the second. 
Luna started the morning against Kyle Downs from Buhach Colony of Atwater. After a scoreless first period, Luna let Downs escape to start the second period, and that was the only point Downs could muster. Luna followed with a takedown and two sets of back points to take a 7-1 lead into the third period when he took Downs to the mat for a pin.
In the state-qualifying match, Luna ran up against Central Valley’s Michael Miller. Luna had problems gaining the upper hand from the beginning and lost 7-2.
“He was in a very, very tough weight class,” Lancers coach A.J. Reindel said. “He had one match to go to finish in the top six and qualify for state and he ended finishing seventh.
“We tried to get to state this year but as a junior he has one more year to go and he has gained a lot of experience. There are a lot of guys here that could compete at the state level but don’t make it that far. That is how tough this tournament is.”
Luna defeated Lincoln of Stockton’s Jackson King 5-4 in the seventh-place match.
At 195 pounds, Manteca’s Dominik Neuharth opened with Dylan Myers from Franklin of Elk Grove and was pinned in the second round, ending his season. A sophomore, Neuharth is anxious to return next season.
“I got a lot further than I thought I would,” Neuharth said. “It’s too bad that none of my other teammates made it and I was the last Buff left here at Masters.
“The only thing I can hope for is to come back stronger, faster and better next year and make it to state.”